Olie & Ari

Olie and Ari is a busy neighbourhood cafe on Were Street in Brighton, in Melbourne's bayside, that actively encourages dogs in its alfresco area. It has become a reliable brunch stop for locals with a dog in tow, especially on weekends when the whole street hums.

The dog setup

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor alfresco seating. If you are booking ahead, tell the staff you are bringing a dog so they can sort an appropriate table. Bring your own water bowl, and keep your dog on-leash and out of the way of the busy Were Street footpath, which gets a lot of through-traffic during the brunch run. The access from street to table is flat and easy.

The vibe and the menu

The kitchen is known for its coffee and a popular pesto chicken sandwich, with the chilli scramble, pancakes and a well-regarded wagyu burger rounding out the menu. Serving sizes are generous, and it is a family-friendly room. It trades from 6am to 2pm every day, buzzing for weekday morning coffee and weekend brunch alike. Mid-morning on weekends is the peak, so early is better with a dog.

Getting there and parking

The cafe sits at 133-135 Were Street. Street parking runs along Were Street and is limited during the busy weekend brunch hours, so arrive early or come on foot through the surrounding streets.

Close by with the dogs

The surrounding streets make a pleasant on-leash walk, and William Street Reserve Dog Off Leash Area covers a proper run. For sand, Brighton Beach Dog Off Leash Area follows the seasonal rules. Brighton Soul and The Little Ox are the other bayside stops on the circuit.

Wider options are on the Brighton destination page and in the VIC cafes index.